Top Home Improvements to Make Before Selling

Selling Your Home? Here are the Top Upgrades to Boost Appeal & Promote Sales

Getting ready to sell your home, especially in today's market, can be an exciting yet challenging process. To ensure you attract the right buyers and secure the best possible price, it's crucial to make your home as appealing as possible. You want to convey the sense that this is a place they could see themselves living in. From simple cosmetic updates to essential repairs, making thoughtful and prudent improvements can significantly boost your home's market value and make it stand out in a competitive market.

Do I Need to Renovate Before Listing my House?

The average homeowner doesn't need a drastic remodel to sell their home. But there are some homes that if situated in the right market, can sell substantially higher with a few minor renos or upgrades. The following suggestions range from re-painting to tearing down walls and everything in between. If your roof is leaking, but you think you can still make a timely sale for a good price without replacing it, good for you. Only you know how much love your house will need for a successful sale.

In this article, we'll explore the key fixes and upgrades that can help your home shine and make a great first impression on potential buyers.

Deep Clean and De-Clutter

We all become complacent over the years, enjoying our homes and overlooking the small things that can bring life back into a house. It's about giving attention to the little things that could catch the eye of a potential buyer. The first step is getting down to basics with a deep clean and de-clutter. No matter how nice the house is, it's really tough for a prospective buyer to look past messy rooms with a dirty bathroom, or a cabinet door hanging off its hinges.

This goes for closets (because buyers actually open them), cupboards, offices, and kid's rooms. The best tip I ever received was from a realtor. As soon as a move was imminent, this person rented a storage container and parked it in her neighbor's driveway. After donating excess clothing and other stuff, she placed anything they wouldn't need for the next 3 months in the container (including rarely used kid's toys). Then, with the house free of clutter, she deep cleaned, and eventually staged her home.

Curb Appeal Can Sell a Home

A significant driver of any purchase, including real estate, is emotion. A potential buyer may pass a property and  suddenly feel an attachment because of a particular feature, something they identify with, or just an overall impression. Never underestimate the power of curb appeal when it comes to selling a home. I've seen homes sold (at an emotional level) before buyers entered the house.

Here are some suggestions for boosting the street appeal for your home before putting it on the market. Some of these are as simple as a coat of paint, others may require a bit of construction.

Your Porch is the Gateway to Your Home

A front porch is probably where you'll get the biggest bang for your renovation buck when it comes to increasing curb appeal. It's the entrance to your home, the first thing people see before stepping inside, or driving past. A striking front porch can also defer attention from other, not so striking, features of a home. Here are a few of the areas to concentrate on when increasing your porch appeal:

• The porch should be clean and free of clutter. It should look inviting and have an element of warmth.
• Design with attractive chairs or small table
• Replace old fixtures with modern versions
• Add accent planters with healthy, blooming plants
• Front pillars or posts often need a pick-me-up. Whether it's just painting or adding some wood trim to make them more of an accent
• Re-paint or replace your front door, or maybe just the hardware
• Re-paint the floor and any railings and steps. Choose colors that you like and that align with current trends (but not fads). Currently, earth tones are popular, along with deep rich blues, greys and whites. The porch should look fresh and new. A well thought-out color scheme with accent trim can be timeless.

Perk up the Yard & Garden

Apart from ensuring the grass is cut and the shrubs are neatly trimmed, here are a few easy tips for perking up your yard and gardens.

• If your perennials are looking tired, it might be time to replace them with bright flowering annuals and some low maintenance flora.
• Weed the gardens if you must, but a few loads of nice mulch spread among your plants and under your trees will make your yard sing.
• Power wash the walkways and driveway and don't forget the lawn furniture.
• Clean the gutters and repair if necessary.

Don't Forget the Garage

A garage can be the last stop before throwing something away, as a result they can also be a haven for clutter. Take the same mindset as the interior - clean, throw away junk, and try to put everything in its place.

Let's Look Inside...

Not Everyone Wants a Pink House

I can't emphasize the impact of freshly painted walls. The longer we live in a house, the more we tend to stray from a consistent decorating scheme. There is something to be said for re-painting the entire home in a neutral color, including contrasting trim. Most importantly, prospective buyers get a clean canvas to work with.

I knew someone who sold a home that was painted in several shades of pink throughout the house. She was fortunate to get a buyer who could see past that and understood that a few gallons of paint would take care of it. Not all buyers are that forgiving. The more your home can be move-in ready, the better your chances are for a quick sale.

Light - Light and More Light

There is something about a house filled with natural light that just feels... good. The whole space feels larger even when it's not. Evaluate your space, consider installing additional windows or a skylight to take advantage of added light or a view.

At the very least:

• Change your lightbulbs to bright white LEDs (not the dreary yellow ones).
• The easiest fix of all to introduce more light - clean your windows, inside and out.

We Love Those Open Spaces

In older houses, it was common to see floor plans featuring many small rooms. Removing walls to combine living spaces and increase the flow also creates more light. Reflecting more modern trends, open floor plans are extremely popular and it's a quick way to modernize an older home.

Of course you shouldn't consider trying this without consulting with a professional to ensure you're not removing a load-bearing wall. Popular plans include removing a wall between the kitchen and dining room, and/or the kitchen and living area.

This may be a bit of an overkill for many sellers, but there are cases where it could be economically feasible. Perhaps you live in an older neighborhood where many of the houses have been modernized and revamped in a similar way. By making these upgrades, a home could command a higher selling price, rather than being listed as a fixer upper.

Focus on the Kitchen

One of the most lived-in areas of the home, a kitchen can make or break the sale of a house. If you're considering a reno, a breakfast bay is one of the most desirable kitchen additions. It's visually appealing, adds character, extra seating, and lets in more light. Often bay window breakfast nooks are facing a garden or backyard and create a peaceful setting to enjoy a meal. One thing is for certain, it adds that "wow factor" to any "ho hum" kitchen.

There are plenty of non-structural changes that you can do to update your kitchen and boost its appeal.

• Change up the appliances for modern versions.
• Re-face, re-paint or simply replace the doors on your cabinets. Changing the hardware for some nice nickel or chrome handles and drawer pulls is a quick fix.
• Change up the faucets to new modern, shiny versions.
• Countertops can be a more expensive investment, but if yours are 20 or 30 years old, it may be worth the investment.

Bathrooms Are Often Neglected

Large bathroom renos are definitely a nice to have, but generally don't have the same impact on selling your home as kitchen renos do. Small changes and upgrades, are worth it, however. Maybe a new paint job, a vanity, a nice new mirror or light fixtures will perk up a dated bathroom. Shiny modern taps are also a nice touch. Find an attractive way to display your towels as well, such as a big basket or catchy shelving. In short, give your bathroom some love.

Embrace Timeless Design Choices

If you've decided that your worn out carpet or floor just has to go, choose quality products that stand the test of time. Try to steer away from the latest fads. Hardwood floors or a quality laminate are both contemporary and clean. If replacing all your carpet is not in the budget, maybe keep the bedrooms if it's not too unsightly.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Once you've completed your cleaning, repairs and any upgrades, your home is ready to be staged and listed. Remember to choose an experienced realtor who has local knowledge of the area you're selling. No matter how much revamping you decide is appropriate, investing time and effort into your property by making the key updates, enhancing curb appeal, and creating a welcoming atmosphere can impact your chances of selling in a competitive market. You're also creating a space that resonates emotionally with buyers, one that allows them to see this house as a home and ideally, envision a future there.

Best of luck with the sale of your home.

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